Swedish ambassador visits Geneva

Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S. Björn Lyrvall (right) exchanges jerseys with U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield.

Caption

(Photo provided by Randy Hultgren’s office)

Ulf Anvin, consul general, Consulate of Sweden Chicago (third from left); Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S. Björn Lyrvall (fifth from left); U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (seventh from left), R-Winfield; Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns (second from right); Jonathan Miller (right), vice president of government relations and public affairs, Volvo Group North America; and others gather outside of Geneva City Hall.

GENEVA – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, hosted Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S. Björn Lyrvall in Geneva to showcase strong cultural and economic ties between Sweden and the U.S.

The Swedish Embassy’s “Sweden on the Road” tour bus arrived May 23 at City Hall, where Lyrvall greeted Hultgren, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and Maria Jönsson, owner of The Gift Box, the only Scandinavian import store in Geneva.

Hultgren and Lyrvall both spoke during breakfast at Riverside Receptions. There, the ambassador received gifts from the city of Geneva and The Gift Box. Local business leaders and elected officials discussed the jobs and opportunities created in Illinois and abroad through the strong relationship between Sweden and the U.S.

Hultgren, founder and chair of the Congressional Friends of Sweden Caucus, said in a statement, “Sweden is one of the largest investors in the United States per capita, and our relationship accounts for more than 330,000 American jobs – more than 15,000 of which are here in Illinois.”

Later, Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove welcomed the dignitaries to the site of the 2016 International Crown Golf Tournament, at which the Swedish Women’s Golf Team will compete.

Hultgren shared, “Ever since my great-grandfather arrived from Sweden and worked his way up in Chicago, my grandfather and father have instilled in me the importance of my Swedish heritage.”

In an email, Jönsson wrote that the ambassador would like to return to Geneva, and that it reminded him of Sweden.

“It was great that Randy Hultgren got the ambassador to come to Geneva,” she wrote in the email.

“Let’s hope that he comes back again to see more of the town next time!”